24 JUNE 1837, Page 4

Cbr Court.

FOR the last fortnight, this department of our paper has presented more serious matter than the record of courtly frivolities. The alarm. ing illness of William the Fourth has given it a sombre hue.

The King continued to decay rapidly during the whole of Saturday ; and on Sunday morning the following bulletin was issued. s Windsor Castle. June It 1837.

" The symptoms of the King's disease have not increased, but his Majesty is more feeble to-day. " HENRY HALFORD.

WILLIAM FREDERIC CHAMBERS. DAVID DAVIES."

It was now evident that a rally was impossible. Even in the Court circular it was admitted that there was considerable cause for alarm- " The state of the King's health is most unsatisfactory, and considerable alarm is now manifest : his Majesty passed a bad night on Friday, and yester- day appeared much fatigued. The King was able to take but little nutriment, and the lower extremities have swelled. The Duke of Cumberland was here yesterday, but left in the afternoon. Earl Munster has returned, and is staying at the Castle. Sir Henry Wheatley arrived this afternoon at the Castle, from town. Dr. Chambers went yesterday to London, but returned in the evening. Sir Henry Halford also departed this morning after the issuing of the bulletin, but has returned this evening. The Archbishop of Canterbury has arrived from town, and has been with the King this afternoon; the Dean of Hereford, Deputy Clerk of the Closet, was also in attendance. The unfavourable nature of the bulletin today, and the desponding account of the very weak state to which the King is reduced, have cast a deep gloom throughout the day." The Morning Herald gives the fullest particulars of the events of Saturday and Sunday at Windsor. " About seven o'clock on Saturday morning, the King sank into a profound slumber—the consequence probably of his utter exhaustion ; and the utmost caution was observed so that nothing might disturb him. His slumber how- ever was so profound and continuous, that the Queen and the medical attend- ants became alarmed ; and that alarm was increased tenfold when, after re- peated attempts, the Royal patient was in some degree aroused, he answered their inquiries only in inarticulate sounds. This inability to speak articulately continued for some time; and, though his Majesty subsequently rallied a little, the most alarming rumours were in circulation. About two o'clock in the afternoon, an express was forwarded to the Archbishop of Canterbury, re- questing his immediate attendance at the Castle; and his Grace arrived in the course of the evening, accompanied by Sir Matthew Tierney ; but not before the King had again sunk into profound slumber. A Sunday paper, of large Ministerial' pretensions, states that the Archbishop was sent for by the King at the suggestion of her Majesty, who saw the King on Friday ;' when, in fact, her Majesty is with the King almost continually. His Majesty passed another indifferent night ; and soon after daylight this (Sunday) morning, the whole of his family were suddenly summoned to his chamber. Shortly after- wards, the Earl of Munster sent messengers to the Dukes of Cumberland and Sussex. An express was forwarded during the previous week for the Duke of Cambridge. Before Sir H. Halford left the Castle, he observed that the King was decidedly worse. Shortly after the issuing the bulletin, the Archbishop administered the sacrament to their Majesties, the King's family, and the prin- cipal personages of the Court; the Court having previously attended divine service in the private chapel. The Household generally attended divine ser- vice—some in St. George's Chapel, and some at the parish-church. There was a very full attendance at both places ; and the beautiful prayer composed for this occasion was responded to with intense fervour. In the parish-church many persons wept whilst it was reading. Throughout Sunday there was no

amelioration whatever ; and the general anticipation was that the King would

not live through the night. Indeed his Majesty expressed himself to the same effect. Sunday being the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, a flag was sent

to the Castle as usual, by the Duke of Wellington, in acknowledgment of the tenure by which he holds the estate conferred upon him by the nation ; and the Earl of Munster, thinking the circumstance might have some effect on his Majesty, carried the flag to him. The King was with some difficulty made aware of the fact ; but then, laying his hand upon the flag, and gently grasping its folds, he feebly ejaculated—' Ab, it was a glorious day for England.'" On Monday morning, the following hopeless bulletin appeared. Windsor Castle, Malicia), June 19.

" The King continues in a very weak and feeble state, notwithstandiuts his Majesty had some quiet sleep in the night.

After transacting his usual business yesterday, his Majesty received the sacrament from the Archbishop of Canterbury, with attention and great appa-

rent comfort. (Signed) " HENRY HALFORD. M. J. TIERNEY. WM. FRED. CHAMBER.... DAVID DAVIES."

There were ratio us during the whole of Monday that the King was actually dead ; and the Herald, and some of the evening papers, pub- lished second edit:0 is in the afternoon, stating that his itlajesty had expired at half-past twelve ; but a third edition of the Herald contra- dicted the mmour ; and it will be seen from the physicians' last bulletin,

published in an Extraordinary Gazette of Tuesday, that the King lived till the morning of that day. ° Windsor Castle, Tuesday. June 20.

" It has pleased Almighty God to release from his sufferings our Most Excel- lent and Gracious Sovereign King William the Fourth. His Majesty expired at twelve minutes past two o'clock a.m. this day.

" MATTHEW JOHN TIERNEY. WM. FREDERICK CHAMBERS. DAVID DAVIES."

The King died without a struggle ; baying been in a state of utter exhaustion for some hours before the event took place.